Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-09-29
WHY HAS WHITMAN COUNTY
EcLIPaEO NEE PERCE?

Neg Pcrce county Is the Oldest settled
county in Idaho. 1t is much older than
Whitman county in Washington Terri
tory. Its agricultural lands have
stronger soil. The lands of the two
counties including Asotin county OF
Washington. border each other for ten
miles north and south, without any
intervening hills or MOUNTAINS, and no
NATURAL barrier to travel between them
save about twenty five miles where the
Snake river divides Asotin from the
southern portion Of Nee Perez. At the
present the towns along the line between
Washington and North Idaho, as far
north as tho Spokane river. on the
Washington side are as follows within
fifteen miles of the line, commencing at
the south and going north. Anatone,
Asotin City, Unioutown, Cotton, Pull.
man, Collar, Palouse City, Pennington,
Gur6eld, Latch, Spanyle, Marshal.
Cheney, Spokane Falls and Rockford,
fifteen in oil. On the Idaho side Of
this line and within fifteen miles of said
line, are Lewiston. Geresee, Julietta,
Moscow and Viola, and these five are
all the towns on the Idaho side of the
line, and yet, Aso,iu City. Uuiontown.
Pullman, Pulouse City, Pennington,
Colfax, Garfield, Spokane Falls, and
Rock ford, derive largely Of their support
from the settlers in North Idaho. The
question naturally arises why are thesc
towns built on the Washington side Of
the liue7 The situation for towns is
equally good on the Idaho side, and the
lands are as cheap, and nearly all the
timber and lumber for building these
towns is bauled from the North Idaho
side, and some Of it many miles. Again
the farms and ranches on the Washing.
ton side are generally better improved
and better stocked, evidently with capital
brought with tho occupants from abroad
for that purpose and not the product. Of
their labor since here, while across the
line 10 Idaho, with equally good and
productive soil. aud oftentimcs better
the occupants, though equally energetic
End industrious, have not advanced a.
far 10 their improvements, nor have they
as much stock, and why? They did not
come here full handed with ample means
to start and maintain that degree Of
improvements. Ths people on the
Washington side chose the lands Of
Washington under which to invest the
money they brought with them. This
condition Of things has been noticeable
for years past, and it is to be accounted
for only on the gound, that North Idah'
il isolated FROM ise" advantages Of thei1
territorial government, that the people
are heavily taxed, to support the paren
government, without any Of its advan
tages that there is no other part of thu
territory, where the people have any
other sympathy, with the people Of th'
North only than to tax them what the,
can bear, and exact prompt payment tt
eli the territorial Golfers, and If they evel
ask an appropriation from the tfeasur,
to build bridge; educational institution
they are overpowered by members in thu
legislature; while, for the counties in thu
South, they can get appropriations t.
build = capitol building before thu
capitol is legally located, an insane asy.
lum, and other institutions for tn
adorumcut Of the Southern counties
while they admit that revenues which WI
pay into the treasury each and ever,
year are equal to those Of any other fou
counties in the ter itory. Men VIII
come to the border line soon learn thi
fact, and they hesitate to cross the lin
into North Idaho, aud prefer to take VI
their abode in Washington and expsne
their surplus means in development ther,
This is Why all the towns are built on tn,
Washington side Of the line, and this il
Why the Spokane l. Palouse railroad il
built along the Washington side Of tn
line. without crossing till near its ter
minus, it makes detour across into thu
richest part, TO gather up the product
lest some other company should b,
tempted to seek to rival them 10 Obtain
ing these products. II they had foune
it practicable to reach Snake river, OF
the Washington side Of the line, the,
would have done 10 gladly, and KEPT
their track ont Of Idaho, and principal,
for the reason that they would prefer
not to.enter North Idah1, isolated as she
is. ii they could have avoided SO doing
and obtained the products Of the rich 81
psrt Of North Idaho. tits our isolated
condition, from the balance Of the terri
tory, that causes settlers to avoid us and
locate in Washington Territory, although
they will locate close up to the line ii
Washington. This is why they will
invest their money in building up towns